Best Tent Camping near Janesville, IA

Tent camping options near Janesville, Iowa include several primitive sites with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Thunder Woman Park and Roadman Roadside Park offer tent accommodations within driving distance of town, though Thunder Woman Park is reportedly closed to camping according to recent visitor accounts. Chickasaw Park provides a more rustic experience north of Janesville near Ionia with tent-friendly sites.

Most tent campsites in the Janesville area feature minimal amenities, with few providing potable water or modern restroom facilities. Roadman Roadside Park stands out with flush toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water, making it suitable for overnight tent camping on grassy surfaces. One camper described it as "quiet, set in a lovely setting with trees and a small lake/pond." Most sites are primitive with no hookups, which particularly affects tent campers who need to be self-sufficient. Several locations like Stoehr Fishing Area limit camping to 24-hour stays, and many do not permit campfires.

The area's tent-only sites offer varying experiences based on location and natural features. At Chickasaw Park, campers have access to pit toilets and can camp near an old quarry where swimming and fishing are permitted. A visitor noted, "We love love love to come camping here," though they also mentioned the minimal maintenance beyond mowed grounds. Stoehr Fishing Area provides limited tent camping with excellent shore fishing opportunities on two ponds, though it lacks designated campsites or fire pits. Twin Ponds County Park and Cutshall Area offer additional primitive tent camping options, though with minimal facilities. Tent campers should be prepared for self-contained camping at most locations, bringing their own water and waste disposal solutions.

Best Tent Sites Near Janesville, Iowa (27)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Janesville, IA

4 Photos of 27 Janesville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Janesville, IA

197 Reviews of 27 Janesville Campgrounds


  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Lime Creek Park

    Nice campground with a Quirk

    The pros: $10 fee ($15 electric), campground seems well maintained (grass is mown, security light works, tables in good repair, gravel access road in good shape, etc); no one here but us, the sound of the running Creek is soothing, vault toilet is probably the cleanest I've seen; ATT cell service was 3bars 5G The unusual: no specific site, no specific place to pull into, no site numbers or designation except on the electric pedestals. It's all grass. Pull onto the grass near the table or electric pedestal you want. The cons: highway traffic noise is easily heard and doesn't seem to stop for more than a few seconds (though the crickets/bug sounds and the creek sound is sometimes louder so you hear that instead), dust from vehicles passing on nearby dirt road filters thru the trees (due to dry weather?), and, well, it is, after all, a vault toilet-not my fav,

  • Kerry M.
    Aug. 25, 2021

    Wolf Creek Rec Area

    Quiet campground in the heart of Iowa

    Wolf Creek is a nice little campground near Beaman, IA (Beaman is very small, near Conrad as well which has a grocery store).

    There are 10 RV sites, which are $15/night and several tent/small camper sites which are $10/night.

    The campground has potable water but no showers. There are vault toilets.

    The campground has a nice playground, which was a feature we enjoyed when my daughter was little.

    My favorite part about this campground is the privacy. The tent sites are spread out and it is fairly easy to find one without neighbors too close.

    Activities:

    + Playground

    + Creek fishing

    + Nice benches and swings

    + Comet trail for hiking and biking

    + Hunting nearby

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Cedar View Park

    Beautiful park, gross bath house

    This is a lovely park. It is fairly quiet, you can hear some highway noise in the distance. The lake is lovely and clean. The spots are gravel, most sites will require some leveling but are not too bad. 

    Each site has a newer electric pedestal with 30 and 50 amp service, and each site has a water spigot, as well as a picnic table and fire ring.

    There are a few sites that back up directly to the lake. There is a swimming beach and a dock. There is a city park adjacent to the campground with a playground and picnic shelter.

    I had 3 bars on on T-mobile which got me 64 down and 18 up. On Verizon I had 3 bars which got me 65 down and 12 up.

    The shower house was pretty bad though. It was older, which doesn't bother me, but it was dirty. There are camp hosts on site but I guess their duties do not include ever cleaning the restroom. There was food trash in there all week, and if you look around you'll find feces, blood, and personal hygiene trash including used condoms.

    I would stay in this campground again because I have a self contained unit and do not need to use the on-site shower house.

  • Kerry M.
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Timmons Grove County Park

    Electric sites only, but beautiful area

    All campsites at Timmons Grove are$18/night and are electric. I have visited this place many times but only camped once. This place has never been busy when I have visited.

    I generally do not camp electric, so$18/night was steep for non-electric tent camping. There is no shower and the restroom is a port-a-potty.

    The area itself is really beautiful. There are good hiking trails, including a walk through some wildflowers. Bird watchers will love this place. Also expect to see deer and turkeys.

    There is boat access to the Iowa river as well as a public hunting area(I have not gone boating or fishing here, or hunting).

    Other than the nearby highway, which is not too bad for noise, the campground is really quiet.

    The price and the nearby highway are my only real complaints here. I am giving it 4 stars.

  • B
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Lake Meyer County Park Campground

    Great spot, tents included

    This is a great little park if you need a place to stop for the night. It was very inexpensive for tents ($10 I think) and the tent camping area was very nice with 3 giant pine trees and some picnic tables and fire rings. As someone who bicycle tours I appreciated fire wood being on site and close to where the tent area is. The bathrooms aren’t the best but they worked. Overall its a safe, clean, welcoming campground for both tents and RV’s.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2020

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Many different camping options

    There are two campgrounds at this park (the first state park in Iowa): a primitive one and a “modern” one. The primitive one (Six Pine) only has a pit toilet and each site has a fire grate and a picnic table. The modern campground (South Lake) has 30 amp, 50 amp, and tent sites. The electric sites are very close together (too close for our liking) so we opted for a tent site. We were in a loop with about six sites, and while the site size was generous and spaced a decent distance apart, there was no delineation between sites and no specific place to park your vehicle (and you cannot park on the road). These sites were also decidedly bumpy and not level; it took us about 15 minutes of maneuvering our van around to find a reasonably level spot. 

    The restrooms were six separate rooms, each complete with toilet, sink, and shower; they were clean. 

    We drove around the park and saw the balanced rock (meh) and I walked the short distance to the mouth of the cave. There was good signage to find the cave but once there, no information about the cave and its safety (or not) was available so I opted not to explore its dark and wet interior! There are seven trails in the park; the East Lake trail was a treat to hike. It hugs the lake for about two miles and while you can veer off onto the Bluebird Trail, I enjoyed hiking out and back for a different view. You can also hike from the South Lake campground to the beach– about a mile but the trail does start and stop, and you have to walk on the road for a bit. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats but we did not take advantage of this. We also did not swim so I cannot speak to the quality of the lake (other reviewers took issue with this). There is also a CCC museum, but it was not open while we were there. 

    We stayed one night which was sufficient for us. It might have been nice to stay longer if we decided to rent kayaks or hike different trails.

  • Chantal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2021

    Chickasaw Park

    Used to be a Quarry

    We love love love to come camping here. It's $10.00 per night last we stayed, placed into a self pay pole. While the grounds are mowed that is about all that is done on the camping side of the river for maintenance. I won't walk into the pit style restrooms let alone use them (kids can be jerks 🙄). There is a small park on the adjacent side that does have a shelter. There are no hookups so consider this a primitive campground. It is adjacent to an old quarry where swimming and fishing is currently allowed at your own risk. Due to multiple accidents and or deaths jumping/diving and cliff jumping is no longer allowed and can be a misdemeanor charge if found doing so. On the river side there is a small dam that also offers fishing. If you're not afraid of ghosts, are respectful, and you follow the road ALL THE WAY BACK there is a very old cemetery (we found it foraging firewood) which we thought was very intriguing.

  • Jessica H.
    May. 9, 2018

    Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park

    Backbone State Park

    This has been one of my favorite state parks in Iowa to camp thus far. I've tent camped in April and cabin camped in October. The cabin camping was the better of the two experiences, mainly due to the unusually chilly overnight temperatures in April. During the warmer months you can rent canoes from the concession stand. Climbing/rappelling is also allowed in the park via registration at the park office.

    We stayed in a family cabin that sleeps up to 4 people. You have to reserve cabins and there is a 2 night minimum stay, but the price is extremely reasonable. These cabins also offer heat and A/C. Our cabin had a common area with a kitchenette.The bathroom included a toilet and shower. The small, but cozy bedroom included a mattress - you're responsible for bringing your own linens - along with a sink. Additional amenities included stove, frig, microwave, pots and pans, and even a small coffee maker. And, the couch in the common area pulled out into a futon, providing extra sleeping space. Outdoor amenities included a fire pit and picnic bench. Bonus: The back of our cabin area looked out onto Backbone Lake.

    We purchased firewood in Strawberry Point, a small town just a short drive from the park. Iowa requires that firewood be obtained within the county you're staying in due to the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic.

    We fished for trout and hiked along several trails in the park. The Devil's Backbone was our favorite mainly because of the scenery along the bluff. It was the perfect way to view the changing leaves and watch the Maquoketa River flow by.

    While we did have neighbors on either side of us, the noise level was minimal, and everyone was respectful of parking spaces as there is a common parking area in front of the cabins.

    This is a beautiful spot to visit especially in autumn.

  • Ax H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Shellrock River Co Preserve

    Great Free spot for tent camping

    Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it. Free, 3 day max stay


Guide to Janesville

Janesville, Iowa camping options offer primitive tent sites on rolling prairie terrain with seasonal temperature variations between 10°F in winter and 85°F in summer. Several wildlife management areas provide basic overnight accommodations within a 20-mile radius of town, primarily catering to self-sufficient campers with limited amenities. Campgrounds in the area require proper waste management as most don't provide trash collection services.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Stoehr Fishing Area permits 24-hour tent camping with excellent shore fishing on two ponds. A local reviewer notes, "The main species are black bass and bluegill, however I did catch a northern pike once. There are grass carp as well." Stoehr Fishing Area has no designated fire pits and prohibits campfires.

Nature observation: Areas around Janesville support diverse wildlife viewing with minimal light pollution. Tent campers can hear "the sound of pheasants and song birds in this area. It is not heavily wooded, but there are oaks, walnuts, and buckeye trees as well as a variety of aquatic plants."

Swimming: The former quarry at Chickasaw Park allows swimming at your own risk. Park regulations prohibit cliff jumping due to safety concerns, with violations resulting in misdemeanor charges.

What campers like

Free firewood: Little Turkey Campground provides complimentary firewood, a rarity among local campgrounds. According to a camper, "Clean shower free wood staff is friendly." This amenity significantly reduces camping costs for overnight visitors.

Secluded camping: River Ranch Camping offers a more remote experience compared to developed sites. A reviewer appreciates this aspect: "It dont have all the amenities like other camp grounds but that's what makes it a great place to camp. It is Back woods camping." River Ranch Camping appeals to campers seeking fewer neighbors and more natural settings.

Historical exploration: Chickasaw Park contains an unmarked historical cemetery accessible by following the main road to its end. A camper shares, "If you're not afraid of ghosts, are respectful, and you follow the road ALL THE WAY BACK there is a very old cemetery (we found it foraging firewood) which we thought was very intriguing."

What you should know

Limited overnight stays: Several tent camping areas near Janesville restrict camping duration. At Stoehr Fishing Area, a reviewer cautions, "small park with maybe one primitive tent site no fire pit 24 hour is the length you can stay."

Self-pay systems: Roadman Roadside Park and other local campgrounds operate on self-pay honor systems without staffed entrances. Chickasaw Park uses a payment pole where "$10.00 per night last we stayed, placed into a self pay pole."

Minimal maintenance: Facilities receive basic upkeep with limited services. At Chickasaw Park, a camper observes, "While the grounds are mowed that is about all that is done on the camping side of the river for maintenance."

Tips for camping with families

Bathroom considerations: Facilities at primitive sites often lack regular maintenance. A parent warns about Chickasaw Park, "I won't walk into the pit style restrooms let alone use them (kids can be jerks 🙄)." Families should bring portable toilet options for young children.

Fishing with kids: The ponds at Stoehr Fishing Area feature accessible shorelines for young anglers with consistent catches. The area has "excellent shore fishing on the two ponds" with reliable populations of panfish appropriate for beginning fishers.

Shelter availability: Little Turkey Campground provides covered shelters, offering protection during sudden weather changes. Chickasaw Park also "has a shelter" on the adjacent side of the river from the camping area, providing gathering space during rain.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most Janesville area campgrounds lack RV infrastructure. Roadman Roadside Park has "no hookups of any kind for RVs and I'm not really sure you can have an RV anywhere but in the gravel parking lot."

Size restrictions: Larger rigs face significant access limitations. One camper notes about Roadman Roadside Park, "There isn't much to this place, which might be why I had the whole place to myself. It's quiet, set in a lovely setting with trees and a small lake/pond."

Level site scarcity: Finding flat parking for trailers requires advance planning. At Stoehr Fishing Area, "a tent could be carries a short distance from the parking area to a fairly level spot, or a little farther to the back for a little more privacy," but minimal site preparation has been done for recreational vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Janesville, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Janesville, IA is Thunder Woman Park with a 1-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Janesville, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Janesville, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.